Vail Pet Talk: Understanding heart disease in our pets

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What are the leading causes of heart disease in dogs and cats?

For dogs: The leading cause of heart disease in dogs is chronic valvular disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease and heartworms. Chronic valvular disease affects 20-40 percent of all dogs. This disease is characterized by degenerative changes in the heart valves, with the mitral valve being the most common site affected. When the valves of the heart are no longer able to perform their job, the internal pressure of the heart increases, cardiac output drops, the heart becomes bigger, and finally congestive heart failure prevails. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease where the chambers of the heart become enlarged and the walls of the ventricles become thin and weak. This disease has been shown to have a genetic or familial basis as well as a link to deficiencies in certain amino acids and protein like substances (L-Carnitine and Taurine).

For cats: The leading causes of heart disease in cats are cardiomyopathies. These are diseases that affect the muscle of the heart and result in weakness of the heart itself. The most common cardiomyopathy affecting cats is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thickened and loses its ability to function properly. Other less common cardiomyopathies include: Dilated cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy.

A common link between cats and dogs is how thyroid conditions can lead to secondary heart failure.

Some dog breeds are more susceptible to heart disease then others. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Miniature and Toy Poodles, Chihuahuas, Lhasa Apsos, Yorkshire Terriers, Schnauzers and Cocker Spaniels are breeds that are commonly affected by chronic valvular disease.

Boxers, Doberman Pinschers, Springer Spaniels, American and English Cocker Spaniels, German Shepard, Great Danes, Old English Sheep Dogs, St. Bernards, Schnauzers, and other large breed dogs are commonly affected by dilated cardiomyopathies.

In cats, pure breeds such as: Persians, Maine Coons and Ragdolls appear to be the most affected by cardiomyopathies, but any breed can fall victim to heart disease.